Mystery CellsCold Case - File #25436

A journey into the differences between

plant and animal cells

Learning Target:

I can identify the differences between plant and animal cells.

Day 1

The situation

• Police contacted the administration of Westwood Middle School early this morning. A dead body was found in the field behind our school.

• Investigators think it was murder and due to budget problems (thanks to the government shutdown), they are asking for our cooperation to help solve the crime.

The Situation

The situation

• “ We found no external marks on the body, suggesting no physical trauma. We did, however, recover some unique cells from inside the body that have been saved for analysis. Before we can determine what exactly they are, we need to decide whether or not they belong to a plant or animal species.”

Medical Examiner’s Statement

The situation

• In order for you to be of assistance to the police department, you need to learn more about cells, and the differences between them.

Research

You will look at ALL of the slides eventually,

but only 6 today.

To learn more, you will use the classroom microscopes to view

slides of different cells.

Take your time to carefully draw exactly what you see.

Use the highlighter tool for more variety of shades.

Today, you will look for 4 minutes at 6 slides.

Please do NOT touch anything on the microscope.

The slides have been set up in a certain way, and you will ruin it for

us all if you adjust them!

WARNING!

1. Record the number of the slide/microscope.

2. Draw what you see in the circles in your science notebook.

3. Make a prediction - Plant OR animal cell? - Explain why.

When you get to a microscope…

1. Slide Number

2. Drawing

3. Prediction(plant or animal)

Each circle should have 3 things…

8

Day 2

Slide Number

Prediction (Plant or Animal)

Reasoning (Explain why you think this)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

• Fill in the 6 you already looked at.

• We will look at the other slides.• Fill in the chart for these too.• You do NOT need to draw anything.• You will have ~1 minute per slide.

Plant/Animal Predictions

• Answer the following questions: (below your plant/animal chart)

1. Do all cells look alike? (Yes or No)2. Give some examples of how they

are different.3. Give some examples of how they

are the same.4. Why might some cells look

different from others?

Mystery Cells: Reflection

Day 2

Plant + Animal Slide Results(Slide Set A)

Keep track of how many you get correct!

Microscope Parts

1. Focus- Coarse Adjust

(large knob = large change)

- Fine Adjust (small knob = small change)

2. Magnification- 40x- 100x- 400x

Lets Practice!

• When I say “break,” go to the scope where you did your FIRST drawing and wait for instructions.

Lets Practice!

The situationCreate-A-Slide

• Today we will make some of our own slides.

• You are an animal.

• An elodea is a plant.

Prepare your own slides:• Plant = Elodea cells

• Animal = YOUR cheek cells!

Draw what you see in the correct circle!

Plant Cells(Elodea)

Animal Cells(Human Cheek)